ISI
Committed to Integrity in Research
ISI Mission
  1. Create awareness within life insurance and related industries and media of ISI’s formation, purpose, goals and focuses.
  2. Establish relationships with educational institutions having graduate programs in finance, law and other subjects related to insurance.
  3. Establish relations with other foundations and funding entities having goals and focuses compatible with ISI.
  4. Encourage institutional research and study centers to undertake ISI-funded studies consistent with ISI goals and focuses.
  5. Establish a “scorecard” for measuring and monitoring ISI’s institutional effectiveness including but not limited to: surveys of applicants to measure grant-making effectiveness, and gathering and compiling published information relevant to ISI and its focuses.
  6. Explore and further define ISI goals, focuses and effective methods for achieving its Purpose and Goals, including but not limited to sponsoring seminars, study retreats, lectures, journalism, research or investigations, etc.

Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Understanding

Founded in October, 2007, ISI is an independent, not-profit foundation dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry’s economic and social impacts in a free market economy

Guiding Operating Principles

To assure the integrity of its research and conclusions, ISI is subject to the following Guiding Operating Principles:

  • Annually assure that the Board of Directors establish specific goals and strategies, clearly communicate all grant making and other activities and routinely review the ISI performance “scorecard”.
  • Commit to the creation of knowledge that adds to or enhances understanding of the insurance industry’s socioeconomic impact.
  • Keep ISI’s operating structure simple and at the lowest possible cost required to achieve its goals and annual strategies.
  • Decision-making processes shall be simple and efficient.
  • ISI shall provide all grant applicants and project teams with fairness, responsiveness and approachability.

ISI Operating Structure

ISI assures its independence, continuity of process, and integrity of data through the following operational structure:

  1. ISI has applied for 501(c)3 tax exempt status.
  2. President and CEO Paul Siegert heads the ISI executive team, reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for all operations and fiscal matters as directed by the Board.
  3. Board of Directors include: Paul Siegert and Jon Sabes.
  4. Funding will be deployed in support of research and studies consistent with ISI goals and approved research focuses.
  5. Cooperative funding will be considered.
  6. All research and study grants are screened by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.
  7. Research and study reports are published and available to members of the insurance and related industries, government and media.

ISI Management Structure

The ISI executive team reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for all operations and fiscal matters as directed by the Board.

Paul Siegert
Director, President and CEO

Paul A. Siegert has over 46 years experience in national and international business with focus on general business, financial and investment strategies, management practices, fiscal controls, profit incentives, systems and corporate structuring and governance. He has consulted to Fortune 500 corporations, regional firms, emerging businesses, government and education, and has served as director, general partner and advisor to partnerships and corporations, including restructuring of economically troubled businesses. 

Mr. Siegert has provided written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee regarding SEC practices and created two companies registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.  He also helped form and guide the Colorado Institute for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Colorado.

Mr. Siegert’s education includes: studies toward a Master of Business Administration, University of Chicago; and Bachelor of Science and Industrial Management, Purdue University. Specific insurance-related experiences include: creation of one of the nation’s first employer self-funded life, medical and disability insurance programs; designing medical, life insurance and social security opt-out programs for educational institutions; incorporation of financial analysis disciplines in life insurance and estate planning; and strategizing of key-man insurance plans and life insurance in business continuation planning for corporations and senior executives.

From 1979 to 1986 Siegert was nationally recognized as a tax and estate planning expert. Mr. Siegert founded a major funder and provider in the life settlement business sector and currently serves as a Managing Director of this entity. In his capacities, he innovated an insurance policy valuation and pricing model, created life settlement documentation, undertook state licensing and compliance and developed operating and marketing systems.

Jon R. Sabes
Director

Jon R. Sabes has over 18 years experience in investment banking, business development, corporate law, financial structuring, tax consulting and underwriting. He is currently President of Opportunity Finance, LLC, based in Minneapolis, MN. His education includes Juris Doctor (Cum Laude), University of Minnesota Law School; and Bachelor of Arts, University of Colorado.

Sabes’ insurance-related experiences include: development of two insurance claim finance companies, one for life insurance claims and one for property casualty claims; research and investment in business aspects of life settlements; structuring of $225 million financing for life settlement acquisitions; development of algorithms for financing property casualty insurance claims; and structuring of $50 million property casualty claims financing.